The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for their commitment to improving the collection and reporting of data on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders (AAs and NHPIs) and other minority communities.

The final standards for collecting and reporting on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status will add seven Asian subgroups (Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and other Asian) and four Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander subgroups (Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan and other Pacific Islander). The addition of these ethnic subgroups will reflect what is already being used in the American Community Survey (ACS) and in the 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census. To learn more about the standards, visit the OMH's website on Section 4302.

"We thank HHS and the Office of Minority Health for implementing a critical provision of the Affordable Care Act that will provide us with a better understanding of the health challenges faced by our communities," said Kathy Lim Ko, APIAHF president and CEO.

To read Kathy Lim Ko's full statement on the final standards click here.

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